Statehood for D.C. Now 

The DC Statehood Green Party
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org

Friday, November 10, 2006

Contact:
Scott McLarty, DC Statehood Green Party Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, mclarty@greens.org

DC Statehood Green Party declares November 'Statehood for D.C. Now Month'

• Statehood Green candidates win eight ANC seats on November 7; party maintains major party status

• Statehood Greens replace Republicans as D.C.'s second party

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The DC Statehood Green Party has declared November 'Statehood for D.C. Now Month,' and is encouraging all residents of the District of Columbia to show their support for democratic self-determination and self-government by contacting elected officials and urging them to endorse legislation for D.C. statehood. 

"We encourage all Americans who value democracy -- not just people in D.C, but across the U.S. -- to call their Congress members and urge them to pass legislation making D.C. a state," said T.E. Smith, native Washingtonian, veteran, and Ward 8 representative in the Statehood Green Party's steering committee. 

The Statehood Green Party will not support the Norton-Davis bill (HR 5388) for a single D.C. voting seat in Congress, citing various reasons.  Statehood Greens claim that it will defer real democracy for D.C., and have warned that that the bill is likely to be overturned in court, since the U.S. Constitution limits voting seats in Congress to states. 

Statehood, on the other hand, will ensure the District two Senators and a Representative, as well as political autonomy. See <http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org//testimony/testimony.php?annc_id=161§ion_id=1> and <http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org/press/press.php?annc_id=163§ion_id=2>.   

Election 2006 Results

The DC Statehood Green Party maintained major party status and ballot access, after four of the party's candidates (Chris Otten for Mayor, Ann Wilcox for City Council At-Large, Joyce Robinson-Paul for U.S. Senate, Keith Ware for U.S. Representative) drew more than 7,500 votes on Election Day, the number required for recognition as a major party in D.C.  

Eight Statehood Green candidates for nonpartisan Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) seats were elected, including four incumbents, surpassing the six elected in 2004. The DC Statehood Green Party had the second highest number of Green candidates elected on November 7, after California, where 18 Green candidates won their races. 

Statehood Greens noted that their party has now replaced the Republican Party in terms of electoral participation and results, although it trails in party registrations: 

• 44,580 votes overall were cast for Statehood Green candidates in five partisan races, compared to 29,776 votes that went to Republicans in five partisan races. (Source: D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics; write-ins not counted) 

• In the race for U.S. Representative (a 'Shadow' seat), Statehood Green candidate Keith Ware received 12,762 (13%), his Republican competitor received 8,839 (9%). 

• In the mayoral race, Statehood Green candidate Chris Otten (4%) came in only 2 percentage points behind Republican David Kranich (6%), even though Mr. Kranich received substantially more media coverage than Mr. Otten.  

Statehood Greens elected to Advisory Neighborhood Commissions: 
David Bosserman, ANC 1D05
Renee Bowser, ANC 4D02, incumbent
Alex Hogan, ANC 1A03, incumbent
Nate Mathews, ANC 1B10, incumbent
Nancy Shia, ANC 1C06
Rick Tingling-Clemmons, ANC 7D05
Bryan Weaver, ANC 1C03, incumbent
Jane Zara, ANC 1D01


MORE INFORMATION

The DC Statehood Green Party
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org